MEREDITH — The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra (LRSO) is conducting its opening concert on Saturday November 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at Inter-Lakes high school in Meredith.

This concert will feature the winner of our 2013 High School Concerto and Scholarship Competition, cellist Paul Bergeron. Bergeron, a high school senior from Dover, will be performing the Prelude from Concerto for Cello in D minor – a highly challenging and lyrical work by French composer Edouard Lalo.

Also on the November program are the familiar "William Tell Overture" by Rossini – which contains the renowned theme most often recognized as "The Lone Ranger"; and the sublime "Symphony #5 in D minor, Reformation" by Felix Mendelssohn, a work which was not published until several years after Mendelssohn's death.

The LRSO concerto competition, now entering its 5th venture since its inception four years ago. More than 50 talented high school students have auditioned, making the selection process extremely challenging. Students compete for a scholarship and the opportunity to perform with the LRSO in its November season opener each year. This year's winner, Paul Bergeron, is an astounding young cellist and is sure to provide an inspiring performance.

Featured Cellist Paul Bergeron began his studies at age four and has performed in master classes with Dorothy Braker and the Muir Quartet, and is currently a member of the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012 he was the principal cellist for the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been a member of the NH All-State Orchestra in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He has performed in the Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival, the Portland Youth Consort, the Bow Street Youth Ensemble, and for many of Spaulding High School's Masque & Dagger productions as well as Dover High School's theater productions. He is also the 2013 winner of the NH Philharmonic Concerto Competition.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students college-age and under and are available online at www.LRSO.org/tickets, or by mail using the order form on that web page. Tickets are available at the following ticket outlets: Innisfree Bookshop and the Mobil station across from the town docks in Meredith; Greenlaw's Music in Laconia; and Bayswater Books in Center Harbor. Discount season tickets are available from now through the November concert. More information is available at www.LRSO.org.